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Home / Sports / Cricket / Photos / Shastri, Kapil, Kallis,: 10 greatest all-rounders of all time!

Shastri, Kapil, Kallis,: 10 greatest all-rounders of all time!

Updated On: 16 October, 2019 09:01 AM IST |

Former Indian cricketer-turned-coach Ravi Shastri celebrates his birthday today. We take a look at ten of the finest all-rounders in the history of cricket

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Former Indian cricketer-turned-coach Ravi Shastri celebrates his birthday today. We take a look at ten of the finest all-rounders in the history of cricket

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Former Indian cricketer-turned-coach Ravi Shastri celebrates his birthday today. We take a look at ten of the finest all-rounders in the history of cricket

Starting his international career at the age of 18, Ravi Shastri was an orthodox spinner who later on went on to show great potential with the bat. His spin bowling fetched him 151 wickets in Tests. But it was his batting that lit up his career gradually as he could switch from his usual defensive style to accelerate the innings when the opportunity called for it. In his 80 Test matches he scored a total of 3,830 runs with 11 centuries averaging at 35.79. He retired at an early age of 31 due to a knee injury and later turned to commentating, but is still known as one of Indiau2019s most flamboyant all-rounders.

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Starting his international career at the age of 18, Ravi Shastri was an orthodox spinner who later on went on to show great potential with the bat. His spin bowling fetched him 151 wickets in Tests. But it was his batting that lit up his career gradually as he could switch from his usual defensive style to accelerate the innings when the opportunity called for it. In his 80 Test matches he scored a total of 3,830 runs with 11 centuries averaging at 35.79. He retired at an early age of 31 due to a knee injury and later turned to commentating, but is still known as one of Indiau2019s most flamboyant all-rounders.

The former Indian captain known to be Indiau2019s greatest all-rounder and fast bowler earned the reputation of a consistent player. He surpassed Richard Hadleeu2019s record to take the most Test wickets with 434, which was later broken by Courtney Walsh. He scored a total of 5,248 runs including 8 centuries in the 131 Tests he played. Kapil Devu2019s 175 runs against Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup is probably his finest ODI innings. He went on to lead India to their first ever World Cup title in the same year.

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The former Indian captain known to be Indiau2019s greatest all-rounder and fast bowler earned the reputation of a consistent player. He surpassed Richard Hadleeu2019s record to take the most Test wickets with 434, which was later broken by Courtney Walsh. He scored a total of 5,248 runs including 8 centuries in the 131 Tests he played. Kapil Devu2019s 175 runs against Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup is probably his finest ODI innings. He went on to lead India to their first ever World Cup title in the same year.

Unarguably the finest all-rounder of recent times, the South African ranks amongst most Test records in batting. He has quite a classical approach to his batting style. He ranks third in most runs in Tests and second only to Sachin Tendulkar in most Test centuries. He is one of the very few with a Test batting averages above 50 (55.37) and has 13,289 runs to his name including 45 Test centuries. The medium pacer has taken 273 wickets at an average of 32.65.

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Unarguably the finest all-rounder of recent times, the South African ranks amongst most Test records in batting. He has quite a classical approach to his batting style. He ranks third in most runs in Tests and second only to Sachin Tendulkar in most Test centuries. He is one of the very few with a Test batting averages above 50 (55.37) and has 13,289 runs to his name including 45 Test centuries. The medium pacer has taken 273 wickets at an average of 32.65.

Garry Sobers can be called as probably the greatest all rounder in the history of cricket. Initially noticed for his orthodox spin bowling, the West Indian could also efficiently bowl other styles including fast medium and has a total of 235 Test wickets to his name. He later on, excelled in batting and also went on to score the highest ever individual Test score of 365 runs, which was later broken by Brian Lara. He has scored a total of 8,302 runs in Tests with 26 centuries.

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Garry Sobers can be called as probably the greatest all rounder in the history of cricket. Initially noticed for his orthodox spin bowling, the West Indian could also efficiently bowl other styles including fast medium and has a total of 235 Test wickets to his name. He later on, excelled in batting and also went on to score the highest ever individual Test score of 365 runs, which was later broken by Brian Lara. He has scored a total of 8,302 runs in Tests with 26 centuries.

The New Zealander began his career as a fast bowler who was also a dependable batsman down the order. Regarded as one of the best pacers and all rounders, Hadlee held the world record at the time with 431 Test wickets in his 86 matches. He was also the first bowler to reach 400 Test wickets. He scored 3,124 Test runs including 2 centuries.

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The New Zealander began his career as a fast bowler who was also a dependable batsman down the order. Regarded as one of the best pacers and all rounders, Hadlee held the world record at the time with 431 Test wickets in his 86 matches. He was also the first bowler to reach 400 Test wickets. He scored 3,124 Test runs including 2 centuries.

The England all-rounder was the fastest to reach u2018the doubleu2019 which was 1000 runs and 100 wickets. He scored 5,200 runs and took 383 wickets in the 102 Test matches that he played. His hard-hitting style made him a force to reckon with and he will always be famous for his brilliant performance at the 1981 Ashes where England defeated Australia 3-1. (Pic/ Agencies)

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The England all-rounder was the fastest to reach u2018the doubleu2019 which was 1000 runs and 100 wickets. He scored 5,200 runs and took 383 wickets in the 102 Test matches that he played. His hard-hitting style made him a force to reckon with and he will always be famous for his brilliant performance at the 1981 Ashes where England defeated Australia 3-1. (Pic/ Agencies)

Remembered as a prolific bowler of his time, and a leader from the front, the Pakistan all-rounder has a total of 362 Test wickets to his name averaging at 22.81. Later in his career, his flare with the bat also began to show and has also scored 3,807 runs in Tests which includes 6 centuries. He was one of the few at the time to have 300 wickets and 3000 runs to his name. His strategic captaincy also helped him lead Pakistan to the World Cup title in 1992.

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Remembered as a prolific bowler of his time, and a leader from the front, the Pakistan all-rounder has a total of 362 Test wickets to his name averaging at 22.81. Later in his career, his flare with the bat also began to show and has also scored 3,807 runs in Tests which includes 6 centuries. He was one of the few at the time to have 300 wickets and 3000 runs to his name. His strategic captaincy also helped him lead Pakistan to the World Cup title in 1992.

The Australia all-rounder, who played during the post-war era is one of cricketu2019s most prolific all-rounders. Milleru2019s 170 wickets in 55 Tests may not justify his sheer talent with the ball. As much as a classic batsman he was, Miller also had the ability to change the course of a match with an attacking batting style. He scored a brilliant 2,958 runs with 7 Test centuries averaging at 36.97. Miller passed away in October 2002, due to poor health issues. Effective with both, the ball as well as the bat, Keith Miller can easily be called an all-rounder in the truest sense.

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The Australia all-rounder, who played during the post-war era is one of cricketu2019s most prolific all-rounders. Milleru2019s 170 wickets in 55 Tests may not justify his sheer talent with the ball. As much as a classic batsman he was, Miller also had the ability to change the course of a match with an attacking batting style. He scored a brilliant 2,958 runs with 7 Test centuries averaging at 36.97. Miller passed away in October 2002, due to poor health issues. Effective with both, the ball as well as the bat, Keith Miller can easily be called an all-rounder in the truest sense.

One of South Africau2019s most dependable all-rounders, Shaun Pollock came to be one of the most consistent bowlers in cricket at a time. Besides his capability with the ball, Shaun also managed to pull off some great batting performances when the team were in a losing position. Pollock proved himself as an all-rounder not only in Tests, but ODIs as well. In the 108 Tests, he has played, Shaun Pollock has taken 421 wickets and scored 3,781 runs including two centuries.

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One of South Africau2019s most dependable all-rounders, Shaun Pollock came to be one of the most consistent bowlers in cricket at a time. Besides his capability with the ball, Shaun also managed to pull off some great batting performances when the team were in a losing position. Pollock proved himself as an all-rounder not only in Tests, but ODIs as well. In the 108 Tests, he has played, Shaun Pollock has taken 421 wickets and scored 3,781 runs including two centuries.

The charismatic South African-born England batting all-rounder also had a variety of bowling styles such as spin as well as medium pace. In the 58 Tests he played, Greig put up 3,599 runs with a batting average of 40.43 including 8 centuries. His spell with the ball got him 141wickets at a 32.20 average. Greig later on turned to commentating and went on to be ranked amongst the best. He succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 66 in December 2012. Besides his talent in the game, Tony Greig will be remembered for his overall love for cricket. (Pic/ Getty Images)

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The charismatic South African-born England batting all-rounder also had a variety of bowling styles such as spin as well as medium pace. In the 58 Tests he played, Greig put up 3,599 runs with a batting average of 40.43 including 8 centuries. His spell with the ball got him 141wickets at a 32.20 average. Greig later on turned to commentating and went on to be ranked amongst the best. He succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 66 in December 2012. Besides his talent in the game, Tony Greig will be remembered for his overall love for cricket. (Pic/ Getty Images)

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